LANCASHIRE’S Ribble Link, which connects the Lancaster Canal to the national waterways network, is undergoing vital maintenance to allow it to reopen for boats.
Engineers from the Canal & River Trust discovered that a seal around the Sea Lock Gate at the entrance to the link, which should be watertight, was causing too much water to be lost to maintain levels necessary for navigation.
To conduct the necessary replacement, the engineers are facing the challenges of working on a tidal river with only a short window each day to carry out work and the complexities of a lock gate designed to withstand tidal conditions.
A spokesperson for the trust explained: “To replace the seal, the caisson in which the gate sits needs to be sealed off.
“Usually, stop planks would be used to prevent water getting in; however, on the Ribble Link, the caisson is flooded twice daily, submerging the lock, and making any form of maintenance impossible.
“To remove the gate to conduct repairs, either a temporary abutment must be created around the caisson to prevent tidal waters entering or work must be conducted in short windows at low tides.
“This second option will require high-capacity pumps to remove the water rapidly, giving at least two to three hours of working time every day. Following preliminary work to reduce leaks through the seal, the gate will be lifted out and sent away for repair at the CRT’s workshop. As well as repairing the seal, the gate will get a full overhaul, with the hydraulic cylinder, pivot pins and bearings also getting attention.”
Impact on boaters
Engineers met with contractors at the site in July, and it will take several weeks for them to formulate a plan of action. Boaters who have booked to use the Ribble Link are being contacted.
Darren Thomas, senior engineer at the trust, said: “As the link to the national waterways network, it is important that we get everything back in full working order as soon as possible.
“Working in tidal areas adds complexity, with less time to conduct work as the water levels fluctuate, and we are spending time carefully planning this intricate repair job.
“While the gate is out of the water, we are taking the opportunity to give it a thorough upgrade so it can continue to withstand the challenging conditions. We thank boaters for their patience while we carry out this work to ensure the Ribble Link is safe and look forward to reopening so boaters can navigate to and from the farthest reaches of our canal network.”
The Ribble Link, which opened to navigation in 2002, connects the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the national waterway network.
It runs around the outskirts of Preston and flows into the River Ribble, which connects with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
